Room For Two by Abel Keogh

Room for Two is an autobiographical journey into Abel's short life with his first wife Krista was too close to home, as we have a 23 year old son suffering with a mental illness. This journey takes us from the shocking shot from Krista taking her own life to his new beginning with Julianna.

People who take their own lives have no clue as to how much worse it is for their loved ones when they take this step. Our son has attempted suicide twice, has threatened many more times than we care to think. This act is a cry for help, but in our son's case, it's more a case of wanting attention and a more selfish act. My Aunt committed suicide over 30 years ago by shooting herself. Her son, home on leave, found her and called me to talk and be consoled for two hours. Mental illness can be debilitating, but can be overcome or handled by medication or using strong positive mental attitudes to cope. Krista, I'm thinking, felt that with having two parents with a mental illness, she was doomed and didn't want to bring any children into this world, but that's just my humble opinion.

Now, both Bob and I can really relate to the getting married a second time after losing a spouse, as Bob lost his first wife, Barbara, from Marfan's Syndrome in '80. We met 11 days after the funeral, and were told at a YSI reunion later that year of newly married couples, that we had the shortest courtship, as we didn't even have a date!!! We got confirmation in the Los Angeles Temple that we were supposed to get married!!! What greater confirmation can you get!!! The day after she died, I was going through the Temple for the first time!!!

I can remember Bob telling me how a few co-workers at the funeral reacted to his being TOO happy at his wife's funeral. His bishop advised him to go out and meet people at YSI and we met at his first activity. His 5 year old daughter Mary, was with him, so I met both that day. And, I was never compared to Barbara in the ways that really mattered. We have blonde hair, both born and raised in California, both graduated from the same high school, she died in the same hospital Mary and I were born in, also my mom, two Uncles and one Aunt, were both Elvis and John Denver fans, but never knew her in this life. We both understand why polygamy was practiced. Bob has told me many times that he loves us both equally and if he had to choose, someone else would have to do the choosing for him.

Barbara was 33 when she died of Marfan's Syndrome and I was 32 and never been married, let alone helping to raise a 6 year old daughter!!! This is a very wonderful, uplifting, life-affirming true story!!! A big two thumbs up!!!

Until next time,
Teri

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599550628
ISBN-13: 978-1599550626
Average Customer Review:

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Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,994 in Books

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Preparedness Principles by Barbara Salsbury

If you have a library full of books on preparedness, Preparedness Principles by Barbara Saslbury may not be for you. If, however, you have very little literature on preparedness, or are a novice, just getting prepared, then this is a great book to have. I don't have it all internalized, nor even all read, yet. There are a ton of great ideas here. It reads as easily as a fun novel, but must be thought about, read over, and the parts usable for you implemented in your life.

I have attended numerous "Preparedness Fairs" over the years and try to use what I learn. Because I didn't take notes, or wasn't organized enough to keep track of those notes, it has been baby steps. One time I was overwhelmed by a friend's "72 hour kit" that filled a back pack that looked like it started out as a body bag. I couldn't have picked it up and wasn't sure it would fit in the trunk of my car, let alone leave room for other family members to put theirs in. I lost most of my desire to continue for awhile, but this book helped me get back in the mood. I just size mine to fit what I think I might need.

I found this book well written and containing most of the ideas I've learned and a lot more. It explained why I needed certain things and the types of things I needed for all the various types of emergencies. I don't live where tornados and hurricanes are prevalent and am on the border of earthquake territory, so I can customize my preparations for my circumstances. (power outages, with hot or cold weather, and lack of food shipments.)

They listed several good inexpensive or free sealing containers for storing food, but missed one, two liter soft drink bottles. This is the only idea I use that I didn't find in the book, and is for limiting the waste caused when pests invade my cupboard. I used to have to throw away up to $1,000.00 worth of flour goods, clean and then buy more food to restock those shelves. Now, I pour my flour, rice, beans, cornstarch, sugar, etc. into clean, dry two liter soda bottles, label them and store them on a metal storage rack in my kitchen. If the bugs get into a bottle of food, I can see them without opening the bottle. When that happens, I throw that bottle away and only lose $1-2.00 worth of food. There were only enough metal shelves to space them a little over 3 bottles high. I cut strips of cardboard 1 foot by 2-1/2 feet, and used these to support the upper two rows of food bottles. (1/8 inch thick wood sheets would be better, but I couldn't afford a sheet when I started this idea. The cardboard works better when the holes run the long way.) My shelving unit is1 foot deep, 2-1/2 feet wide, and 5 feet tall. I put 7 bottles in a row one each shelf, with two more rows on top separated by the cardboard strips. This makes storage for 105 bottles of dry food. In the past 15 years, I've thrown away maybe 4 bottles of contaminated food, and the mice haven't been able to get into a single one. The clear ones are easier to see what is inside, but the green ones seem to minimize sun damage. Be sure to label each bottle. I have several that I have NO idea what is insde. Don't use with spagetti, macaroni, or anything that clumps. (too hard to get back out) I made a funnel by cutting the bottom off one of the bottles. I connected it to each bottle using a 1 inch wide strip of paper taped around the threads. I've since made one from a piece of PVC reamed to size, and a friend gave me a threaded connector used to connect two bottles together to make a liquid hourglass. The better the seal, the less dust on the counter, and the more food in the bottle.

Forever Friends Rating: 5 Stars.

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc. (August 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0882908065
ISBN-13: 978-0882908069
Average Customer Review:

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Amazon.com Sales Rank: #631,421 in Books

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Caught In The Headlights by Barry K. Phillips

It's been quite awhile since I've read a self-help type book and I'm sure glad and grateful that Caught In The Headlights was the right book to read now. Barry writes with a lot of wit about the 10 lessons he learned the hard way. This amazingly short (104 pages) has so much wisdom in it. Barry quotes Confucious, C.S. Lewis, Mark Twain, and Jesus Christ.

He brings home his point in easy, but very powerful ways. The ten lessons are: Happiness, Self-Esteem, Pride, Freedom, Control, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Success, The Big Event and The Perfect Body. I would NOT walk, but run to your nearest bookstore and buy this amazing little book, which is big in so many ways!!! This book should be read and pondered by everyone, but also enjoyed and savored as you go!!!

Have you ever gotten what you wished for, only to discover that it's not really what you wanted after all? We've all had those deer in the headlights moments when we realize we've been chasing after the wrong things. Caught in the Headlights is a frank, insightful look at 10 key goals most of us think we want - only to discover our eyes are on the wrong prize. Barry Phillips not only entertains but also examines common values and enlightens us to the goals we should seek, and what to do differently now that we know better. From goals such as happiness, self-esteem, protecting our pride, or the perfect physique, Phillips takes a closer look at those aims prized by society and explores how we can pursue higher goals. A thoughtful, funny, and at times profound look into the real reasons we all have for the things we do, this book will entertain, enlighten, and inspire. ~ Amazon.com

Paperback: 116 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort (June 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599551675
ISBN-13: 978-1599551678
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #377,870 in Books

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